Zelensky calls on Pope Francis to mediate between Russia, Ukraine

By AFP 22 March 2022, 2:40 pm

Edit

Pope Francis waves from the window of the apostolic palace during the weekly Angelus prayer on March 20, 2022 in the Vatican. (Tiziana FABI / AFP)

KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls on Pope Francis to mediate in his country’s conflict with Russia to help alleviate human suffering, nearly one month into Moscow’s invasion.

Zelensky says he had held a telephone call with the pope and that he had “told His Holiness about the difficult humanitarian situation and the blocking of rescue corridors by Russian troops.”

“The mediating role of the Holy See in ending human suffering would be appreciated,” Zelensky writes on Twitter following the call.

Negotiators from Moscow and Kyiv have held ongoing talks aimed at ending nearly four weeks of fierce fighting, but have failed to announce any progress so far.